Carrefour, a French conglomerate and the world’s second-largest retailer, is planning to leave Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, and is seeking offers for its units in these countries. Although customers have enjoyed the resultant low-price policy of these retailers, consumers may suffer in the long run when the industry is dominated by only one retailer. Retailers, therefore, have high bargaining power with suppliers.
Otherwise, the industry will be monopolised in the near future if the French brand’s outlets are acquired by Tesco.Ĭurrently, the retail business in Thailand is in effect an oligopoly, dominated by a few large companies. The Thai retail industry may have a better competitive edge if Big C Supercentre or Berli Jucker takes over the local operations of Carrefour.
